Pattern Debut: Abrigado

Autumn is the season for knitting--and for new patterns! I certainly do have a lot of them for you this month. Here's the latest, Abrigado.

Abrigado is a textured throw knit in bulky weight yarn, and it's part of Knit Picks' new Creature Comforts collection. This collection features 8 cozy knits for your home that you'll want to snuggle up with when the weather turns.

I designed this throw with speed in mind--knit with thick yarn and large needles, the blanket features a textured chevron-style pattern that will hold your interest, but isn't as fussy or time consuming as cables or lace. The chevrons mix with slipped stitch columns, and the whole thing is set off by a simple garter stitch border. You'll have it done in no time!

The Creature Comforts collection is currently on sale as part of Knit Picks' book sale, so it's only $8.99--that's a steal! Or buy the individual pattern for just $4.99. If you're not quite ready to buy, show it some love over on Ravelry!

Sock Yarn Scarves--winner!

We had a great response to the Sock Yarn Scarves giveaway--135 comments! No one can resist the siren call of free yarn, I suppose. ;)

So, our lucky winner is Commenter #38:

 

And that is a Ms. Cindy Smith! Cindy, I hope you remember to check the blog this week and see that you're our big winner! Shoot me an email (mediaperuana@gmail.com) with your mailing address, and I'll get your prize out ASAP.


Thanks to everyone who entered for your thoughtful comments about this collection and the individual patterns! And a special thanks to all the new blog visitors--I hope you'll continue to visit in the coming weeks, as I have 3 more new patterns debuting in September, as well as some additional giveaways planned!

In the meantime, here's an adorable behind-the-scenes video Knit Picks put together of the Sock Yarn Scarves photo shoot--enjoy!

Pattern Debut: Siempre

 

A new Knit Picks collection, Sock Yarn Scarves, debuted on Thursday, and it features my latest design, Siempre!

Siempre is an infinity scarf knit in fingering weight yarn--and Knit Picks has some beautiful ones to choose from. The yarn used in the book is Stroll Glimmer, which, as you can see, has a hint of shimmer. (I used a sunny yellow to knit up my sample, and as soon as things get settled around here, I'll dig it up to share.) It requires a single 100g skein of sock yarn to create this versatile fall accessory--wear it long like a necklace, or double loop it for warmth.

 

The scarf features complementary lace and cable patterns, and a slip stitch edge for a smooth finish.
It's knit flat from a provisional cast on, with the ends grafted together for a seamless look.

 
The individual pattern is available for download for just $4.99, or buy the whole collection: the ebook with 7 patterns is just $9.99. If you'd like a print edition (and who wouldn't?), that's available too, for $14.99.

I'd personally go for the ebook as the best deal, because it includes 7 beautiful designs perfect for fall--especially Estivate and the Bees and Honeybees Stole!

Pattern Debut: Cielito Baby Blanket

I made it back from vacation in one piece, and am thrilled to announce that while I was gone, Knit Picks released my latest pattern in yesterday's collection of new IDP patterns!

Introducing Cielito:

We all know someone having a baby, right? Perhaps many someones, if you're in that magical baby-land of your late 20s/early 30s. And we all worry about the perfect gift--what if this sweater is too big/small? What if the baby outgrows these socks after one wear? What if the baby hates hats?

All of these worries are why baby blankets are the perfect gift.

Blankets always fit. In the air conditioning age, blankets are used year round. They never go out of style. Some even become heirlooms.

The only problem is, blankets are so . . . big. So much work.

So I set about trying to devise a baby blanket that would work up quickly, look impressive, and register just a notch above "mindless" knitting--easy to memorize, but requiring enough attention to keep you from dozing off.

The top and bottom edges feature a zig zag stitch, to add a bit of interest over the usual garter edging. The central stitch pattern is a mix of traveling eyelets and star stitches that offer a hint of lace and a bit of texture. And the pattern is written for worsted weight yarn, to knit up quickly, but blocked to an airy finish so as not to be oppressive.

I worked up my sample in Knit Picks Swish Tonal, in the Queen Anne colorway, but using a tweed or heathered yarn would give the blanket quite a different look.

Just how quickly could you finish it? After much swatching to work out the pattern (those traveling eyelets did not start and stop easily!), I knit the blanket itself in about 2 weeks--though I was working on a deadline.

Of course, you could consider an impending birth a deadline as well.

The Cielito baby blanket is now available exclusively from Knit Picks for $3.99. It calls for approximately 900 yards of worsted weight yarn and size 7 needles (gauge = 5st/in in central stitch pattern, after blocking--swatch!). You can also find the pattern on Ravelry here; after a period of exclusive sales through Knit Picks, I will also make the pdf available for purchase through my Ravelry store.

(Remember, sign up for the MediaPeruana designs newsletter to receive notices about pattern sales and exclusive discounts!)

Hope you like it!